Daily Archives: October 3, 2021

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Kansas City Chiefs have never been shy about giving players with questionable backgrounds a second chance.

Or third or fourth or fifth.

Or, in the case of Josh Gordon, a sixth.

The wildly talented yet trouble-prone wide receiver was reinstated by the NFL this week following his fifth suspension for violating its substance-abuse policy and policy on performance enhancers. And with a glaring need for a big, rangy wide receiver for Patrick Mahomes, it made sense that Kansas City was one of several teams to inquire about him.

Gordon wound up signing with the Chiefs on Tuesday. One day later, he was wearing a red No. 19 jersey and working out with the practice squad while trying to digest as much of coach Andy Reids robust offensive playbook as possible.

Josh is a good player. I think we all know that, Reid said, and hes worked hard on his situation and making sure it was right. Hes been reinstated by the league, which I thought was an important step, and so we welcome him aboard.

Reids reputation as a coach willing to give players the benefit of the doubt dates to his time in Philadelphia, when he most famously gave Michael Vick an opportunity to be his quarterback following his prison sentence for his role in a dogfighting ring.

It has continued in Kansas City with mixed results.

Many teams took Tyreek Hill off their draft boards entirely following his arrest on charges of domestic violence during his time at Oklahoma State. He had finished his college career at tiny West Alabama, where he got rave reviews from coaches, and the Chiefs took a fifth-round flier on him in the 2016 draft.

Not only has he steered clear of trouble, hes been a three-time All-Pro while setting a slew of franchise records.

Travis Kelce missed an entire college season at Cincinnati to a suspension, and many believe that hurt his stock leading up to the 2013 draft. The Chiefs took him in the third round and, much like Hill, he has earned three All-Pro nods, set a slew of records and joined up with his speedy counterpart to help the Chiefs win a Super Bowl.

On the other side of the coin are players such as Marcus Peters, Kareem Hunt and Frank Clark.

Peters was a two-time All-Pro cornerback for the Chiefs, who drafted him despite his getting kicked off his college team. But he had run-ins with coaches and teammates in Kansas City and ultimately was traded to the Rams.

Hunt, who also had issues in college, had a dominant rookie season for Kansas City before video surfaced of him kicking a woman in a hotel hallway. The Chiefs immediately released Hunt, who was later signed by the Browns.

In the case of Clark, who had a domestic violence arrest in college, the Chiefs traded with the Seahawks for him and signed the pass rusher to a long-term deal. But he was arrested again in March in Los Angeles and is facing a felony gun possession charge; his arraignment and plea hearing is set for next week.

Everybody deserves an opportunity to at least try to do the right thing, Reid said.

Gordons talent has never been disputed. He led the league with 1,646 yards receiving in 2013, when he was an All-Pro with Cleveland, and hes showed flashes of that same ability during brief stops in Seattle and New England.

The question is whether Gordon can avoid the drug issues that have plagued his career.

Hes had a great eight months here of taking care of business. The league obviously understands that hes a good guy, Reid said. We always sell Kansas City in general its a great place to live, a great fan base and so on. So you are going to have support. As long as youre doing the right things, youre going to have support.

The Chiefs also have a strong locker room culture that should help Gordon stay out of trouble.

We like bringing in good football players, guys that work hard and come here and want to win football games, Mahomes said, and so it was a heck of an opportunity to bring him in here and involve him in that receiver room, and hell have his role. Hes a great football player, and I think you know in this offense everybody gets a chance to make plays.

The Chiefs had hoped that Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson or Byron Pringle would emerge as their No. 2 wide receiver after Sammy Watkins left in free agency. But all of them have been inconsistent at best, and now they turn their hopes to a player whose size and athleticism is unlike anything else they have on the roster.

Hes going to be a guy that even if hes covered, hes not covered. You can kind of throw it up there and he can make plays, Mahomes said. Ive talked to him a little bit here now and he seems like a great dude that wants to come and work, so well see as he gets out here on the practice field how he can help us as an offense.

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Chiefs gambling that Gordon can stay out of trouble in KC - KMID - Local 2 News

PORTSMOUTH To continue filtering thousands of dollars worth of grants, scholarships and Little League team sponsorships out into the local community, the local Elks Lodge is looking for another source of revenue for its vast charitable causes.

What better way to do so,Elks Lodge exalted ruler Michael Griffin said, than for the city's voters to approve Keno gambling in the Nov. 2 election.

Returning to the municipal election ballot this fall will be the question of whether to allow city bars, restaurants and taverns to offer Keno 603, a popular New Hampshire Lottery electronic bingo game Portsmouth voters rejected two years ago. Players can wager $1 to $25 per game, according to rules on New Hampshire Lottery's Keno 603 webpage.

Those funds go directly into the state education fund and its distributed accordingly, Griffin said. I think it's a form of entertainment, the game itself is an electronic game of bingo.

In July 2017, Gov. Chris Sununu signed into law Senate Bill 191, which established Keno as a revenue source for the funding of full-day kindergarten in New Hampshire. On Dec. 15, 2017, the gambling game took effect in New Hampshire, and its now played in approximately 220 locations in the Granite State that offer it to patrons.

City voters soundly rejected the game in the 2019 municipal election, by a vote of 2,966 to 2,456.

Four years after its origination, state lottery officials say Portsmouth is one of 26 Granite State municipalities where voters have rejected the popular game of chance, a list that also includes Exeter, Greenland, Hampton Falls and Stratham.

On the flip side, voters in about 80 New Hampshire communities have approved Keno. This started with localelections in 2017, when seven Granite State localitiesvoted in favor of Keno. Locations include Rochester and Somersworth, as well asBerlin, Claremont, Nashua,Manchester and others.

Some opponents ofgambling cite the negative impact on people who lose money they don't have to lose.

Charlie McIntyre, the executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery, said in a prepared statement Keno 603 sales exceed $1 million every week.

Almost immediately following Keno 603s inception in December 2017, we began hearing from establishment owners about how the game provides a boost to restaurants and taverns and that chorus of support has only grown over the past four years, he said. Keno 603 provides establishments with another way to engage both existing customers and new ones. As more cities and towns approve Keno603, more establishments will be able to feature the game, which ultimately helps us to drive more revenue in support of education in New Hampshire.

Former PortsmouthFire Commission chairman George Remick, a member of both the Elks and the American Legion, said that a Portsmouth coalition of sorts has formed between some residents and businesses pushing for Keno 603 to be approved.

More: Portsmouth mayor, councilors signal support for Keno ballot vote

Keno 603 yard signs have been distributed by Remick to interested voters in Portsmouthand businesses in the city, including the Clipper Tavern.

It doesnt hurt anybody or anything, it's strictly a game for them to play and theyre doing it all over the state. Keno has been around forever and theres never really been any problem with it, he said.

In fiscal year 2021, Keno 603 brought in more than $47.7 million in sales, a 65% hike from the games FY 2020 revenue, according to New Hampshire Lottery spokesperson Maura McCann.

Last fiscal year, McCann said Keno 603 awarded nearly $33.3 millionto game winners. As of Tuesday afternoon, game sales had reached $13.5 million-plusthus far in FY 22 and collective prize money given to winners stood at $9.1 million-plus.

Thirteen weeks into the fiscal year, McCann said that current Keno 603 sales are outpacing last years sales total by about 35%.

More than $4 million in sales commissions (has been) paid to restaurants and taverns that offer the game, she said of this years Keno 603 revenue. Officially, that's 8 cents for every dollar sold.

A breakdown provided on the state lottery website notes 63% of revenue is allocated to prize payouts, 25% is for New Hampshire public education and the remaining 12% is split between retailer commissions, administrative expenses and other sales costs.

McCann said Keno 603's net profit for the state is 26%, though it's entirely "earmarked" for public education. In its 57-year existence, the state lottery as a whole has contributed over $2 billion to New Hampshire public education.

The University of New Hampshire Survey Center administered a survey in 2018 on behalf of the state lottery commission to determine the success of Keno 603 in the time since it had been implemented by state businesses the year prior.

Close to half of business operators who began offering Keno 603 responded that their food and beverage revenue jumped in the months since they began selling the game, and over half of those respondents estimated that food and beverage revenue had jumped between 1% and 10% in that time.

In all, the schools Survey Center had nearly 75% of respondents state that Keno 603 brought new customers into their establishments and increased the overall volume of their clientele.

Its a revenue-maker all around, Remick said.

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'It doesn't hurt anybody': Will Portsmouth voters approve Keno gambling in 2021? - Seacoastonline.com

When last we paid close attention to sports betting, the Maryland General Assembly had overwhelmingly approved legislation seven months ago to legalize the practice in the wake of the 2020 voter referendum on the subject, and it seemed almost uncontroversial. Not only were Democrats and Republicans in the legislature, along with Gov. Larry Hogan, united in their support of the move, but Maryland was joining at least 18 other states that either already had done, or were in the process of doing, the same thing: taking wagering on sporting events out of the shadows, as already happened with casino games and the lottery. But as readers of this newspaper have noticed in recent days, this gambling business comes with some strings attached, including the prospect of and we advise readers to take a deep breathe at this point $5 million bets on the outcome of a single game.

Thats right. As reported by The Suns Jeff Barker, the states Lottery and Gaming Control Agency is pondering the rules for legal sports wagering and one of the calls that needs to be made is how big a bet should be allowed. The proposed regulations cap bets at $5 million. But heres the thing: While that might seem extreme to average folks, some of the major players in the industry like FanDuel and DraftKings say its too restrictive. Theyd like no cap. And why? They offer the example of a thoughtful, informed gambler who might, for example, own a chain of stores holding a promotional giveaway if a local sports team wins a championship. Thus, such a bet would help cover the potential cost. That might sound preposterous, but then theres 70-year-old Houston furniture store owner named James Franklin Mattress Mack McIngvale with a habit of placing seven-figure bets on his beloved Astros.

What the companies dont detail in their formal public comments is whether there might be gambling addicts who cannot afford a $100,000 wager let alone a $5 million one, who might be tempted to place such a potentially ruinous bet. Were guessing there might be. And one thing about legalized sports gambling, its going to not only take matters out of the shadows, its going to place them front and center. Not only through the states half-dozen casinos, race tracks and stadiums but perhaps at the touch of your cellphone through various apps. Instead of tracking down a bookie who might limit bets for fear of messy collections (perhaps involving broken limbs), state-sanctioned companies will be texting you with all kinds of offers. Oh and theyll be accepting credit cards, PayPal or Venmo and taking steps to simply foreclose on your home should you lose. They have worse than hired thugs, they have lawyers.

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Now, if that doesnt sound disconcerting enough, there was also news that the state also needs to address risky bets. And whats meant by that? Well, Major League Baseball worries that purveyors might, for example, allow wagering on the first pitch of a game whether its a ball or strike. That may not seem so bad on the surface but baseball executives have a point. Throwing a ball or strike on a first pitch has little meaning for the outcome of a game or even the performance of the pitcher. Might the pitcher throw one or the other to benefit gamblers with their own pitch, if not directly to him, to his friends or family? Its called a fix and its not exactly a new concept but it is a potentially ruinous one for the integrity of sports.

Maryland has a few weeks yet to offer a final version of its sports gambling rules, but based on public comments like these, wed offer this bit of advice: be very, very cautious. If the Old Line State ends up with a reputation for being conservative on sports wagering compared to other states where the rules might be more lax, were good with it. Gambling addiction is real and so, alas, is the possibility of gamblers seeking to fix events, whether the final score or something as trivial as the first pitch. Surely, theres no rush for the late autumn startup. As recently reported, the state treasury is flush with cash right now thanks in large part to federal aid and sports gaming isnt a huge benefit to taxpayers anyway as its only expected to raise just $17 million per year, primarily for schools. We see little reason to loosen the rules to accommodate the industry or some nutty purveyor of furniture.

Baltimore Sun editorial writers offer opinions and analysis on news and issues relevant to readers. They operate separately from the newsroom.

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Is there a plan to scare Marylanders about sports gambling? If so, its working. | COMMENTARY - Yahoo Tech

The state of Connecticut has launched a new online portal that will allow people to voluntarily exclude themselves from being able to gamble.

The website, which is already active, comes as legalized sports betting is scheduled to be up and running on Oct. 7 in Connecticut and available both online and at establishments around the state, including the two tribal casinos and 10 Sportech locations.

While this may be a form of entertainment many people can enjoy, for others it can be a harmful addiction. The ability to voluntarily exclude yourself from these activities is one of the many tools available to help, said Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle Seagull in a statement.

People can choose to be added to the states Gaming Self-Exclusion List for one year, five years or for their lifetime. Names will remain on the list until someone requests to be removed. The website warns that gambling licensees may ban individuals on the list from land-based properties as well as all of their online gambling, online sportsbooks, and any fantasy sports contests, including those located in other states.

The website also warns that individuals on the list could forfeit any rewards points they may have earned in Connecticut and elsewhere.

In the problem gambling community, self-exclusion is an essential step in helping people who are addicted, Diana Goode, executive director of the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, said in a statement. By creating a barrier from participating, it allows those in recovery a much-needed respite from triggers and reduces the likelihood of relapse.

Both Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, which will begin offering sports betting and fantasy sports next month, have allowed people to self-exclude themselves from the tribal properties for years.

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Connecticut allows residents to exclude themselves from gambling ahead of sports betting launch date - MassLive.com

Jason White| Special to the Courier & Press

Week 3 of the NFL season was a mixed bag of highs and lows for the betting public.

While bettors scored big when the Bills, Cardinals, and Packers covered their spreads in high volume betting, the sportsbooks regained their footing with outright wins by the underdog Saints, Chargers, and Vikings.

Underdogs continue to bark in the early stages of the seasonand now have a 30-18 record against the spread. Thats the best against the spread record by underdogs through the first three weeks of the season since 2002.

Remember to be disciplined this week when it comes to bankroll management. You should have a certain percentage of your bankroll designated to be utilized during each week of action. Its important to not go off script as a reaction to the results of your early game picks.

If you get off to a hot start and cash some big tickets, stick to the game plan. If you get off to a rough start and string together a few losses, stick to the game plan. Failing to do so can quickly erase any big gains, or dig an even deeper hole if you start chasing.

2-Team 6-point Teaser (-120):

CARDINALS (-7.5) @ Jaguars - WIN

BILLS (-7.5) vs. Washington - WIN

The Bills embarrassed Washington with an easy cover, while the Cardinals overcame a rough start to beat the number to gain.

OVER (42.5) Saints @ Patriots: Two missed field goal attempts by the Saints completely killed what would have been an easy cover. Saints 28, Patriots 13 - LOSS

UNDER (55.5) Buccaneers @ Rams: Things were going according to the plan as both teams combined for only 21 points in the 1st half. But a 27-point explosion in the 3rd quarter buried this bet. Rams 34, Buccaneers 24 - LOSS

JETS (+10.5) @ Broncos: The Jets were even more inept than anyone could have predicted. They managed to gain a meager total of 162 yards from scrimmage. Broncos 26, Jets 0 - LOSS

OVER (64.5) Receiving yards by Deebo Samuel - Packers @ 49ers (-115): Samuel had tallied a total of 17 targets, and 282 receiving yards in his first two games. And despite getting 40 yards in the 1st half, he finished with only 5 catches for 52 yards. Packers 30, 49ers 28 - LOSS

OVER (37.5) Rushing yards by Josh Allen - Washington @ Bills (-110): The overrated pass rush of Washington was non-existent in this one. Josh Allen had all day in the pocket and was never pressured into running the football. 4 carries, 9 yards - Bills 43, Washington 21 - LOSS

2-Team 6-point Teaser (-120)

BILLS (-17) vs. Texans: This Bills have the fourth best defense in the NFL, while the Texans continueto sputter with a backup quarterback. This is the biggest line of the season thus far, so teasing it to a more manageable number is too tempting to resist.

UNDER (51.5) Browns @ Vikings: Look for both teams to try to establish their running games early to set up opportunities down the field. The defense of the Browns has been stout, giving up the third fewest offensive yards in the league. There will be some points scored in this gamebut not enough to beat this teased number.

BEARS (-3) vs. Lions: Before the season began, the Bears would have looked at the schedule and viewed this matchup as one of their easiest home games. But the start to their season has been nothing short of a dumpster fire. In honor of the stout Chicago defenses of the past, Im putting my faith in their defense once again. Look for the Bears to dial up pressure on Jared Goff and produce some takeaways. Rumored changes to the offensive play calling for Chicago will result in a much more palatable performance.

RAVENS (-1) @ Broncos: The Broncos have exploded onto the scene this year with one of their best starts in recent memory. But theyve done so on the backs of a schedule that provided victories over three winless teams. Dont shy away from this one simply due to my pathetic Jets prediction last week. If Lamar Jackson plays, the Ravens will provide the Broncos with a serious reality check. Shop around for the best juice on this one, checking both the spread and money line odds.

BUCCANEERS (-7) @ Patriots: This matchup has been capturing all of the headlines this week with Tom Brady returning to the city where he dominated the NFL for two decades. There are a ton of off the field storylines here, centering around who needs this win more from a legacy standpoint. But even against a suspect Tampa Bay defense, quarterback Mac Jones will need to be absolutely perfect to have a chance. New England head coach Bill Belichick is regarded by many as the best head coach in NFL history, but the Bucs have far too many weapons for the Pats to keep this game tight.

OVER (65.5) Rushing yards by Antonio Gibson - Washington @ Falcons (-115): This is the week Washington finally utilizes their stud running back. If Gibson can get the 12-15 touches he deserves, hell blow past this total.

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Here are The Commish's gambling picks for Week 4 of the NFL season - Courier & Press

In 2019, the Department of Health and Social Care commissioned PHE to undertake a review of the evidence on gambling harms. The review includes the most comprehensive estimate of the economic burden of gambling on society to date, revealing that the harms associated with gambling cost at least 1.27 billion in 2019 to 2020 in England alone. This analysis includes the first estimate of the economic cost of suicide (619.2 million) and provides an updated cost of homelessness associated with harmful gambling (62.8 million).

Gambling related harms in the analysis range from financial such as bankruptcy and employment issues, to family issues, and health harms such as suicide.

The review also shows that people at risk of gambling harms are concentrated in areas of higher deprivation, such as the North of England, and may already be experiencing greater health inequalities. The review found a clear link between higher levels of alcohol consumption and harmful gambling, with only 35.4% of non-drinkers participating in gambling compared to 74.4% of those consuming over 50 units of alcohol (equivalent to 16 pints of beer or large glasses of wine) per week. Alcohol use in children and young people was also found to be a risk factor for subsequent harmful gambling.

The review also highlights the link between gambling and mental health issues. The report found that gambling can increase the likelihood of some people thinking about, attempting or dying from suicide. Evidence suggests that people with gambling problems are at least twice as likely to die from suicide compared to the general population, with one overseas study showing that people with a gambling disorder had a 19 times increased risk of dying from suicide.

The review also found that gender and poor mental health were the strongest indicators of gambling related harm:

The evidence suggests that harmful gambling should be considered a public health issue because it is associated with harms to individuals, their families, close associates and wider society with an approach that focuses on prevention, early intervention and treatment. The new Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) will work closely with other government departments, including the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and key stakeholders to develop a workplan to address the knowledge gaps identified in this review, improve data collection, and deliver an effective response to gambling-related harm.

Rosanna OConnor, Director of Alcohol, Drugs, Tobacco and Justice at PHE, said:

There is so much more at stake from gambling than just losing money from the toll on mental health to the impact on those around the gambler.

The evidence is clear harmful gambling is a public health issue and needs addressing on many fronts, with an emphasis on preventing these harms from occurring as well as with help readily accessible for those directly and indirectly affected by the wide ranging and long lasting negative impacts of gambling.

Minister for Mental Health, Gillian Keegan said:

Whilst the economic costs of harmful gambling are stark, the cost to individuals as a result of their addiction, and those around them, cannot be overstated.

We are working to protect vulnerable people from the damaging impacts gambling can have, including through specialist NHS gambling addiction clinics and investing at least an extra 2.3 billion a year by 2023 to 2024 to expand mental health services.

I encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out support is there for you.

Gambling Minister Chris Philp said:

We are gathering all the necessary evidence to reset the balance between giving adults the freedom to choose how they gamble safely, with the right protections for those at risk of harm.

We are determined to protect vulnerable people from exploitation by aggressive advertising or unfair practices that entrench problem gambling.

Jim McManus, Vice President, Association of Directors of Public Health said:

This evidence review from PHE paints a stark picture of the avoidable harms from gambling to the economy, society and the individual. Again, we see that existing regional inequalities are exacerbated by these harms with those from poorer areas at higher risk from the negative impacts.

A public health approach, with cross-government support, properly funded, is essential to reducing harmful gambling and all the negative consequences highlighted by this research in relation to debt, relationships and jobs.

Tim Miller, executive director at the Gambling Commission said:

We are pleased to welcome this important independent report from Public Health England.

Protecting people from gambling harms is a priority for the Gambling Commission, and we take a public health approach to do so. Public Health Englands work will help to support the continuing collaboration of a wide range of bodies under the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms.

Faculty of Public Health President Professor Maggie Rae said:

Harmful gambling is a major public health issue which seriously impacts on health in a number of ways. As well as suicide and severe mental health problems, this report highlights harms caused by gambling including financial, employment, relationships, physical health, and criminal activity.

Gambling organisations are preying on peoples addictions, and we see that the burden of gambling harms is born by those already facing disadvantage, serving to widen existing health inequalities. This report is welcome as it highlights the wide range of harms caused by gambling, and calls for concerted action to tackle this major public health problem. This urgent call is especially timely as we have seen these problems exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Landmark report reveals harms associated with gambling estimated to cost society at least 1.27 billion a year - GOV.UK

Yokohamas infamous gambling hall wont open its doors unless you find its hidden Gambling Hall code. Unlike most access and locations youll unlock organically through progressing the story such as the skateboard or items you can find lying around like the rare beehives, the Gambling Hall code is a bit more off the beaten path. Without a guide like this, youd maybe bump into it after running around for quite a while but luckily AOTF can save you the hassle. Heres everything we know on how to find the gambling hall code in Lost Judgment.

To find the gambling hall code in Lost Judgment, youll need to eavesdrop on the two men talking about the hall in Fukutoku Park. They will reveal how to figure out the code with two hints and youll be able to work it out once you head back to the halls keypad. Dont worry though, below we have the two hints if youd like to solve it yourself as well as the code if you want to skip that headache.

If youre looking to solve this mystery for yourself, here are the two hints provided by the men. As a little hint from AOTF, think of what they are providing you in terms of a keypad or touch-tone phone where you would enter a code or phone number into. Perhaps the hints are actually meant to be worked in a different direction

For those not wanting to solve the code themselves, see below for the code to the gambling hall in all of its glory.

The gambling hall code is 7120. After entering it, hit the ENT (enter) button and the door will unlock with a slightly enthusiastic comment from Yagami. Congrats!

Lost Judgmentis available now for Playstation 4 and Playstation 5. Check back for moreLost Judgment guidesas we come up with them!

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Lost Judgment: How to Find the Gambling Hall Code - Attack of the Fanboy

From Friday it is possible to legally gamble online in the Netherlands. The Dutch Gambling Authority issued licenses to ten providers of digital gambling games, including Holland Casino and the Dutch Lottery, known for example for the Staatsloterij and Lotto. They are bound by strict rules to prevent gambling addiction.

The providers must comply with strict conditions regarding supervision and regulations in order to limit the risk of gambling addiction as much as possible. Money laundering must also be prevented. The providers also have to pay a gambling tax. In addition, there is a minimum age of 18 to play and advertising for gambling online must not be misleading or lead to excessive gambling.

It is estimated that approximately 1.5 million people are actively gambling online in the Netherlands. That market has an estimated value of 800 million euros. This includes games like poker, roulette, blackjack, slot machines and sports betting.

Incidentally, the Consumentenbond suspended its collaboration with the Advertising Code Foundation for an indefinite period. The reason was dissatisfaction at the consumers' association over agreements on gambling advertisements. According to the consumers' association, these offer too little protection for vulnerable groups and against gambling addiction.

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Online gambling now legally possible in Netherlands - NL Times